That's not a growth wrote:Cheers brer. From the way you make it sound it seems 90% of your time is having your arse handed to you.

It really is. Its one thing you learn pretty fast in BJJ, don't get disheartened by people submitting you, because it happens almost non stop. At this level the best you can do is learn how to defend and escape, and really the only chance you have of subbing someone, is if theyre newer to the game than you.

Ive had to take this week off from Gym and BJJ. Hurt my neck last saturday and the muscles are still a bit sore now. The worst thing about it was it was an absolutely pointless injury, i got stuck drilling moves with this one blue belt who has zero chill and only knows one way of training, that being 2fast2furious. As expected he went at it like we were competing for gold and strawberry floated me up just practicing bloody moves, not even sparring.

I hate missing time from the gym, in one way i like the rest and a bit of extra time to myself in the evening but i always feel like a lazy slob for not doing something.

So I've been to the gym 9 times in August so far. Back at the start of the month, I had just started weightlifting for the first time in about 4+ years. Was doing 60KG bench 3x5. Yesterday I did 90KG 1rm @ bodyweight of 85.8KG. Then 80KG 3x8 then a 4th set for 5

Muscle memory is legit. Wouldn't be surprised if I was back to benching 100KG by the end of September.

Weight on the scales hasn't really budged in 7-8 weeks so I decided to start weightlifting again and keep up the swimming. Now I do swimming 3x a week in addition to weightlifting 3x a week. Clothes feel looser but the scales is stubborn, fingers crossed it's recomposition - losing same weight of fat at same rate of gaining muscle weight. Abs certainly feel like they're becoming firmer and more visible (still a long way to go before I have 6 pack showing!) so I don't think it's optimistic thinking.

meant to post this a while back, its not great quality but its one of the few before and after shots i have. Left is at my heaviest, 16st in late 2011 or so. Started working out in June 2012, and the right picture was me in Japan last year, 11.5st, 75KG. Potato quality photo on the left was courtesy of a gooseberry fool camera phone but its about the only full body shot i had from when i was that big

Looking great on the right brer, can definitely see the obvious improvements. Although to be honest I don't actually think you look that bad on the left (no homo). You still taking a break due to injury?

I'm having an enforced couple of weeks off due to traveling, not the most happy about it as it was when I was starting to make obvious progress again but hoping to really go full on from next week. Need to hope my lack of a diet these weeks won't impact me too much.

Rocsteady wrote:Looking great on the right brer, can definitely see the obvious improvements. Although to be honest I don't actually think you look that bad on the left (no homo). You still taking a break due to injury?

I'm having an enforced couple of weeks off due to traveling, not the most happy about it as it was when I was starting to make obvious progress again but hoping to really go full on from next week. Need to hope my lack of a diet these weeks won't impact me too much.

Its not the best worst photo If it was less blurry you could spot the moobs, and the roundness of my face easier, (I had massive hamster cheeks) but for obvious reasons I hated getting photos taken then so don't have a lot of them left.Im pretty healed now so was back at it last week. But typically, first week back, I went to one BJJ class Tuesday, then on Thursday got a splitting headache so had to miss class. Managed to go for a swim on Friday, gym Saturday. Still had the damn headache tho. Had to do something cause my diet is dreadful. Was eating cake all weekend

Good that you managed to get back on it even if your head is still feeling strawberry floated, traveling round the highlands and off to Holland tomorrow - been pretty sweet!

Think I overestimated the ability of my shoulder with regard to BJJ though, was hoping to get into it as soon as I was back in Budapest but had a yoga class this evening and the range of motion's still way off a normal level.

Rocsteady wrote:Good that you managed to get back on it even if your head is still feeling strawberry floated, traveling round the highlands and off to Holland tomorrow - been pretty sweet!

Think I overestimated the ability of my shoulder with regard to BJJ though, was hoping to get into it as soon as I was back in Budapest but had a yoga class this evening and the range of motion's still way off a normal level.

What kind of gooseberry fool can I give to my girlfriend to do at home before she works up the courage to hit the gym? She just wants to get fitter, not fat or anything but she is coming off a pretty serious knee ligament injury so nothing over bodyweight for now I reckon.

Was just going to try and work out some sort of situp, pressup, pullup, plank flavour thing for her. Any ideas? Every day at home, prefs with no equipment. She'll be joining me for training after shes in the routine.

What kind of gooseberry fool can I give to my girlfriend to do at home before she works up the courage to hit the gym? She just wants to get fitter, not fat or anything but she is coming off a pretty serious knee ligament injury so nothing over bodyweight for now I reckon.

Was just going to try and work out some sort of situp, pressup, pullup, plank flavour thing for her. Any ideas? Every day at home, prefs with no equipment. She'll be joining me for training after shes in the routine.

Download some insanity videos. Great cardio and bodyweight exercises in them. They'll get anyone in good shape and easily ready for the gym